Left wing of a triptych with the Erythraean Sibyl (outer wing)

The panel was painted by Maarten van Heemskerck in 1564, executed in oil on panel as one of the outer wings of a triptych devoted to the Erythraean Sibyl. The work was commissioned by Vincent Dammasz, who also became its first recorded owner.

Following Dammasz, the wing passed into the Six family collection, held successively by Jan Pieter Six VI and then Jan Six VII. It subsequently entered the holdings of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains part of the collection.

The outer wing of the triptych featuring the Erythraean Sibyl, painted by Maarten van Heemskerck in 1564, was later dispersed from its original commission for the Delft Town Hall and entered private collections before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum. Its iconography of the Sibyl contributed to Mannerist interpretations of prophetic figures in Northern Europe and informed subsequent decorative programs in civic buildings during the late 16th century. The work's journey from Vincent Dammasz's patronage to the ownership of Jan Pieter Six VI and Jan Six VII illustrates the circulation of Northern Renaissance art among elite families, a trajectory documented in exhibition records and collection inventories.

The painting's current display at the Rijksmuseum preserves its historical context while allowing scholarly reassessment of Heemskerck's role in bridging High Renaissance ideals with emerging Protestant visual cultures.

Created in 1564, the left panel of a triptych portrays the Erythraean Sibyl. Executed in oil on panel, the work measures a modest size typical of outer wings and forms part of a larger three‑panel composition now housed in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

During the mid‑16th century, Dutch painters often incorporated classical figures to align humanist learning with Christian doctrine. Heemskerck’s inclusion of the Erythraean Sibyl reflects this trend, while his use of vibrant gold embroidery and a scroll underscores the sibyl’s esteemed, though antiquated, status.